Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-04-28
MICHIGAN MATTERS.
SUDDEN SUMMONS.
David Preston Dies suddenly of Hear
Disease.

Disease.
David Preston, the prominent banker OF
Detroit, died at his home in that city Sun
day morning, April "a, of heart disease.
For a year or two past he had not been
strong and vigorous, but was not consid-
cred to be I'm a dangerous condition. Last
year he went abroad for his health. and
returned apparently greatly benefited.
Since his return he has given his time To
the management of his vast business in
terests, and TO the charitable, benevolent
and political reforms for which he was
known. He was at his Office as usual only
the day before the summons came, and re-
turned at tea time feeling as well as usual.
David Preston was born in Harmony,
Chautauqua county, n. Y, Sept. 20, 1926.
He received liberal education in the pub
lie schools, taught four years in the coun-
ty of his birth, and came to Detroit in the
fall of 1S4S. He was married May 5,
1852, to Jane b. Hawk of Conneaut, Ohio.
Seven children and his widow survive.
Of the children one daughter and two sons
are married.
Mr.. Preston first engaged in the bank
ing business in Detroit in 1S4S, as a clerk
for &. +. Lewis, a private banker. In
1852 he started in business for himself I'M
and continued as private banker until
July 25, 1855. In the meantime he estab-
lished the firm of Preston, Kean d Co.,
in Chicago. and both firms were very sue
cessful in the conduct of their business.
On account of Mr.. Preston's failing
health the business in Chicago was finally
organized into the Metropolitan national
bank, in which Mr.. Preston retained a
large interest and remained director to
the time of his death. In 1885 the Detroit
business was incorporated under the gen.
eral banking law of Michigan, and the in
corporated bank was named the Preston
bank of Detroit. of which Mr.. Preston was
president, f. w. Hayes vice-president,
and w. A. Bercy cashier.
Mr.. Preston was the son of the Rev. Da-
vid Preston, a Methodist minister, and
came to Detroit poor boy, but by his own
efforts accumulated fortune, and, al
though during his lifetime having devoted
70 charitable purposes more than 500, 900,
he died in the possession of an ample com
potency Mr.. PrestOn's life was insured
in several companies, the aggregate sum
footing up TO about $50, 900.
Mr.. Preston was almost lavish in his
gifts to religious, charitable and education
al causes, having distributed in his way
more than $780, 900 within ten years past.
He was from his youth devout and
consistent member of the Nj. L. church.
In Detroit he was first a member of the
First NJ. +. church and upon the union of
that society with the CONFESS street NJ. L.
church as the Central NJ. +. church, was
one of the committee which had charge Of
the building of the beautiful church of
that society at the corner of Woodward
avenue and Adams avenue east, and a
very liberal giver 10 the building fund.-
He purchased the lot upon which the
Simpson NJ. f. church was built and large
ly aided in the organization and securing
the success of that church, as also of the
Cass avenue NJ. +. church.
In 1878 he raised $50, 900 in aid of the
endowment fund of Albion college giving
a large sum himself and securing the re-
mainder by personal canvass among the
Methodists of the state. He had but just
returned from the journey when the finan-
cial storm Of 1878 struck his bank.
During the war Mr.. Preston was an ac-
tive worker in the Union cause and a
member and officer of the Michigan branch
of the United States Christian commission.
The only public Office he ever held was
that of member Of the board of aldermen
from the fifth ward in 1872 and 1878.
He was a strong republican until pro-
hibition took political turn, when he fol-
lowed his convictions into the new party
and from il accepted the only nomination
for other than local Office which he ever
received.
He had no olitical ambition and these
nominations were accepted without any
hope of election and with no other de-
sire than to strengthen the party which
he believed would ultimately fulfill the
purpose of its founders.